Labeling-machine



OMS. SELLS.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZB, I920.

1,393,581. Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR.

BY ym f ATTORNEYS.

S. SELLS.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZB, 1920.

Patented 001;. 11, 1921.

2. M H NW T E w m m T. H 1 1 v M Q L 2 M a 0. S. SELLS.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2s. 1920.

1393,5 1 Patented Oct. 11, 1921 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

VENTOR. yd 06 BYZQM i ATTORNEYS.

L (R QM 6 1 4 I W m m 4 w w & M a, Q iimiow M @B O. S. SELLS.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men JUNE 29. 1920.

1 machine.

UNITED STATES OGDEN S. SELLS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LABELING-MACHINE.

Application filed June 28,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OGDEN S. SELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo,lin the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for applying labels on cans or packages which are filled with foodv products or similar goods and has for its objectthe'provision of a machine whereby this purpose may be accomplished in a quick, reliable, economic and efficient manner.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a labeling machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3--3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine, showing the manner of centering the cans on the conveyer. Fi 5 is a rear end elevation of the Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse secti0n, 0n an enlarged scale, taken on line 6-6, Fig; 1, and showing the manner of applying a quantity of adhesive to the top of a can preparatory to depositing a label thereon. Fig, 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of the upper part ofthe machine, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 77, Fig. 2. Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary vertical transverse sections,-

taken on the. correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the label strip from which the labels are formed. Fig. 11 is-a horizontal section taken on line 11-11, Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the strip feeding mechanism.

Similar characters of reference indicate- .corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, the machine comprises means for depositing a quantity of liquidadhesive on each can, means for feeding a label strip, means for cutting labels successively from the label strip and pressing the same on the adhesive coated portion of the cans, and means for carrying the cans successively past said adhesive supplying device, label strip feeder, and label cutting and applying devices.

20 represents the main frame of the machine which maybe of any suitable construc- Speeiflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921 1920. Serial No. 92,205. 7

tion to support the various working parts of the machine.

The conveyer for the cansor packagesto be labeled preferably comprises an endless chain belt 21 having an upper "horizontal operative stretch and a lower horizontal idle stretch and front and rear turns which pass around front and rear sprocket wheels 22, 23. The latter are mounted on horizontal shafts 24, 25, respectively, which are jourtit) naled transversely in bearings on the main frame.

' On the lower front part of the main frame is journaled a horizontal transverse driving shaft 26 which is provided at one end with a pulley 27 adapted to receive a driving belt.

An intermittent forward movement is 1mparted to this chain belt from the uniformly turning driving shaft 26 journaled horizontally and transversely on the lower rear part of the main frame bymeans which preferably comprise a ratchet wheel 28 secured to rotary motion of the, crank arm 32 causes an oscillating movement of the ratchet lever whereby a step-by-step forward movement is imparted to the conveyer chain through the medium of the ratchet mechamsm.

Inasmuch as the wrist of the crank gradually sweeps farther away from the axis of the ratchet lever during the forward stroke of the latter and gradually sweeps toward the axis of the same during the return stroke of the same, the ratchet leyer moves comparatively slow while advancing the conveyer but relatively fast when the conveyer is at rest and also produces an easy starting and stopplng act1on of the conveyer which reduces wear and 1arr1ng of the machine.

On its outer side the conveyer chain is provided at intervals with transverse conveyer wings or plates 34: whlch pro1ect laterally beyond opposite edges of this belt and also sufficiently close together lengthwise of this belt so that whenthe same are on the straight upper and,lower stretches of this belt the same form practically a continuous surface. The opposite ends of these conveyer plates while on the upper operative stretch of the conveyer slide on two hor1- zont'al longitudinal ways or tracks 35 mountdesigned more particularly for labeling cans having cylindrical bodies and flat ends and each can is adapted to rest with its lower flat end on the conveyer plates and receive the label at its upper flat end. In order to properly position the cans 'on the conveyer relatively to the adhesive or gum supplying and label afiixing devices, centering means are provided -comprising a plurality of pairs of centering pins 38 arranged at intervals on the proper conveyer plates and on opposite sides of the path of the cans are arranged two longitudinal centering arms 39 offlexible material such as spring steel which are supported at their front ends by posts 40 on the main frame and normally converge in; the direction of movement of the cams and on opposite sides ofthe path of the same.

If the attendant places the can indiscriminately on the plates of the conveyer, the latter will carry the same forward until it is engaged on its opposite sides by the centering arms 39 which latter then detain the can and cause the conveyer plates to slide past the underside of the same until the. centering ins 38 engage with the can and cause the atter to be moved forwardly pos tively. As the can is forced into engagement with both pins of a pair, the same is also centered into the proper position to register with the gum supplying and label affixing devices which subsequently'operate on the same.

41 represents an upright nozzle which is arranged above the path of the cans as the latter are moved forward by the conveyer,

: this nozzle being adapted to deliver a quantity of l quid gum, paste, mucilage or similar adhesive upon the central part ofthe top of the can, Although various means may be employed for supplying'the liquid adhesive or. gum to and discharging the same from the nozzle to the can top, those shown 1n the drawings are preferred and compr1se an upright pump having the outlet of 1ts cylinder or barrel 42 at the lower and barrel, a vertically swinging operating lever 48 pivoted on the upper part of the main frame, an upright shifting'rod 49 guided on.the rear part of the main frame and connected with the rear end of the operating lever 48, and an eccentric strap 50 surrounding an eccentric 51 on the main driving shaft and having a pitman 52 which is connected with the lower end of the shifting rod 49, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. The timing of the conveyer and the pump operating mechanism is such that while the can is being moved forward a step by the conveyer after being placed thereon by the attendant, the lunger of the pump is raised ormoved bacliwardly, thereby drawing a charge of liquid gum from the supply tank.

into the pump barrel. When the can comes to rest underneath the gum delivery nozzle at the end of a forward step of the conveyer, then the plunger descends and ejects the liquid gum therein through the nozzle and upon the top of the can at the center thereof, this operation being repeated for each can presented to the gum delivery'mechanism.

After receiving the deposit .of gum on its upper end the can is advanced another step by the conveyer and presented to the devices which affix a label 53 to the gummed surface. The labels for'this purpose are preferably cut or stamped out from different sections of a strip, tape or band 54 of paper or other suitable'material a supply of which is arranged in the form of a roll '55 immediately in rear of the gum pump and nozzle and on which labels have been previously printed in a spaced relation lengthwise of the strip. The supply roll is mounted on a supply spool or reel 56 which is journaled loosely and removably on a spindle 57 secured at one end to the upper .part of the main frame. From the supply reel the label strip passes downwardly and for? wardly around a front guide roller 58 mounted on the adjacent part of the main frame, thence forwardly and horizontally lengthwise of the path of the can and immediately above the upper end of the same, thence'upwardly around a rear guide roller 59 pivoted on the adjacent part of the main frame and thence wound in the form of a roll 90 around a receiving reel or spool 60 arranged above the rear guide roller. The

label strip is fed forwardly intermittently,

of teeth 62 which engage with two longitudinal rows of openings 63 formed in the stripiadjacent to its opposite edges, and thereby cause the 'strip to be positively moved forwardly when the feed roller is rotated For the purpose of enabling the teeth of the feed roller to remain in engagement 7 I with the holes of the strip and maintain a good .grip thereon, 'a horizontal retaining plate'f64 is mounted on the main frame in position to support the stri on its underside immediately below the eed wheehthis plate being provided with clearance openings or slots 65 to permit the passage of @the teeth of the feed roller. The latter is rotated intermittently so that the label stripmoves forwardly in unison with the can oonveyer, this being preferably accomplished by jsecuring the feed roller to one end of a feed shaft L91 which is journaled on the am'ain 30. frame; a counter-shaft 66 journa-led on the main rame and having a gear pinionj' 67 meshiiig with a gear wheel 68 on the obn- Veyer shaft 25 and a chain belt 69 passing around a sprocket pinion 70 on the countershaft and a sprocket'wheel 71 0n the feed roller shaft, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,3 and 5. The receiving reel or take-up spool is driven frictionally so as to take up the waste rear part of the label strip or band from which. the labels have been cut and pressed on the can. This frictional drive, as shown .in Figs. 2, 5 and 8, may consist of a round belt 72passing around a "grooved pulley 73 on the feed roller shaft and a grooved pulley 74 on a shaft 75 which is journaled on the main frame and to which the take-hp reel is detachably secured. g Between the label strip supply roll and the feed roller is arranged the device where y the labels are successively cut from the strip and pressed on the gummed surface of the can. Iii its prefererd form the cutting device comprises a die plate 76 which supports the underside of the strip immediately in rear of the front guide roller 58 and preferably is formed in one piece with the retainingpr guide plate 64 and secured to the lower part of a bracket 77 which forms part of the main frame. This die plate is provided with a vertical die opening 78 over which the label strip passes and'below which each can comes to rest momentarily after a film of gum has been deposited thereon. The label strip is confined on the die plate over the die opening therein by a guideway 79 formed in the underside of the bracket 77 above this opening. 80 represents a vertically reciprocating punch which is guided in ways 81, 82 on the bracket! 7 in line with the die opening and connected at its upper end with the operating lever.

While the strip of label material is advancing one step to present a new or fresh section of the sameto the cutting position, and the conveyer is moving a can to the label receiving position, the punch is elevated. When the conveyer and label strip come to rest at the end of a step, the can stands under the cutting mechanism and thereafter the unch descends and forms a label by pushing that part of the strip above the die plate downwardly .through the die opening therein and then directly depositing this severedlabel upon the surface of the can which has been previously coated with a film of adhesive material, thereby causing the label to stick to the can. 'This cycle of operations is repeated for each label cut and affixed to the cans successively moved to the slabel receiving position by the conveyer.

The waste portions. of the label stri contaming the perforations 83 formed y the removal of the labels therefrom is taken up the take-up reel in the same measure as the forming and aflixing of the labels progresses.

After the labels have been aflixed to the cans the same are advanced step-by-step until they reach the rear part of the upper stretch of the conveyer from which they may be removed or discharged in any approved manner.

When the label strip has been exhausted, the reel 60 upon which the waste of the same has been wound, is removed and replaced by the empty reel on the supply spindle 57, and another reel havin a roll 55 of fresh label strip or tape is su stituted for the reel 56. The supply of liquid adhesive may also be replenished from time to time as required through the topof the reservoir which is normally covered by a lid.

Instead of feeding the label strip by means of a toothed feeding wheel, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, this may be accomplished instead by omitting the perforations in the tape or strip and feeding the same frictionally by engaging the opposite sides of the strip 84: by plain-faced feed rollers 85, 86, as shown in Fig. 12, to which rollers an intermittent forward rotary motion may be imparted by suitable means.

In the construction of the machine, the front side of the main frame is so constructed that it is comparatively open and permits of easy access to all parts of the machine for inspection, adjustment or reairs.

This method and apparatus for making and applying labels to cans and other articles is not only very economical but it is also ver ex editions and permits the packages to e properly labeled with a minimum waste of material.

5 I claim as my invention:

A labeling machine comprising a conveyer adapted to transport the articles to be labeled, means for depositing a quantity of adhesive on that art of each article in- 10 tended to receive t e label including a delivery nozzle arranged above the path of the articles, an adhesive reservoir, a pump cylinder having its inlet connected with said reservoir and its outlet connected with said nozzle, a plunger movable in said cylinder, 15 and a rock lever for operating said plunger, and means for delivering labels to the adhesive coated surface of said articles.

OGDEN s. SELLS. 

